Mabel Mary Armstrong

" You Will Always Be With Us" Mabel Mary Alder Armstrong, aged 90 years old, a resident of Vancouver, Washington since 1952, passed away on February 13, 2010, following a brief illness. After a full and busy lifetime of sharing her strength and wisdom, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family will sorely miss her love, counsel and wry sense of humor. She was a strong moral compass for her family and all who knew her. Mabel was born in Sneedville, Tennessee, on December 8, 1919, the daughter of William D. Alder and Emma Mary Rice Alder. However, the family soon moved to Galion, Ohio, where Mabel went to school, graduating in the Class of 1937 from Galion High School. She moved to Columbus, Ohio, enrolling in what is now known as Columbus Business University. Mabel married a young U.S. Army serviceman, William Armstrong, in 1939, after meeting him for the first time on a blind date and tying the knot when they eloped. Bill's military career took the couple and two of their children on several decades of travel as they lived on or near military installations in Ohio, Kentucky, District of Columbia and Alaska. They arrived in Vancouver in 1952 when William was posted to Vancouver Barracks, Washington, remaining here after he retired as a Major following a 22 year military career. Once settled in Vancouver, in their own permanent home for the first time, Mabel put her business management skills to work in the Portland offices of Doctor's Official Service Bureau from which she retired in 1978 after more than 20 years of dedicated service. An ardent consumer of current affairs, Mabel avidly followed local and national politics and public affairs. She followed the news in The Columbian and several other newspapers and magazines to stay abreast of election campaigns and pubic issues. She always had a strong opinion about the wisdom of what was happening and how her local elected officials were doing. A "night owl," her reading often took place during the "wee hours" and her night-time telephone chats spanned several time zones. Mabel was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, National and Local Chapter of Military Officers Association of America and a long-time member of Columbia Presbyterian Church. One of four children herself, Mabel's husband was one of nine children, so the couple's extended family stretched across America, with relatives in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, California, New York, and Georgia, as well as Oregon and Washington. Frequent family reunions and drop-in visits by friends from across the nation and abroad kept the family bonds close. Mabel and William Armstrong celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on December 29th 1989, in Vancouver, surrounded by friends and family from across the nation. Her survivors include sister, Julia Yost, aged 94, of Columbus, OH; sister-in-law, Doris Armstrong of Beaverton, OR; sister-in-law, Juanita Armstrong Ternes of Vancouver; brother-in-law, Edward E. (Mely) Armstrong of Daly City, CA; her children, Michael Allen (Dnynia) Armstrong of Brooklyn, NY, Stephen Harrison (Beth) Armstrong of Fremont, CA, Janice Elaine (Michael) Strickland of Battle Ground, WA. Her grandchildren include: Aram and Aisha Bauman of New York City, Arija (Paul) Nol of Poulsbo, WA, Christopher Armstrong of Brentwood, CA, Lindy Armstrong (Jason) Brown of Rohnert Park, CA, Bryan (Brooke) Strickland of Vancouver, Kevin (Amy) Strickland of Battle Ground, and Kyle Strickland of Eugene, OR. Great-grandchildren include: Adina and Olivia Bauman of Staten Island, NY, Devon and Christopher Gifford of Poulsbo, WA, Cameron Armstrong of Brentwood, CA, Katrina and Maximus Ricca of Staten Island, NY, and Natalie Strickland of Vancouver. Mabel was preceded in death by her husband, William; brother, William "Bill"; and sister, Averie.

Mabel Mary Armstrong

December 8, 1919 - February 13, 2010